Power management systems and methods for gesture recognition in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (xR) applications is described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: receive frames captured by a camera of a Head-Mounted Device (HMD) worn by a user in an xR application, wherein the HMD is coupled to a plurality of infrared (IR) emitters; identify a state of a gesture sequence being performed by the user based upon the frames; and select a level of illumination provided by the plurality of IR emitters in response to the state.